This is a visualization the US EPA EnviroScreen data for Chicago in 2019. The EnviroScreen metric combines environmental and demographic data into a single, easy to use metric for identifying environmental justice communities.

Census tracts are ranked for 11 environmental and 8 demographic indicators, a resulting percentile score is then found for each tract. The percentile scores are then averaged, resulting in an environmental and demographic score for each tract. The two averages are multiplied together to determine the EnviroScore.

Environmental Indicator Map

A higher score means more pollution.

The Environmental Indicator is a combination of:

  1. National Scale Air Toxics Assessment Air Toxics Cancer Risk
  2. National Scale Air Toxics Assessment Respiratory Hazard Index
  3. National Scale Air Toxics Assessment Diesel PM (DPM)
  4. Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
  5. Ozone
  6. Lead Paint Indicator
  7. Traffic Proximity and Volume
  8. Proximity to Risk Management Plan Sites
  9. Proximity to Treatment Storage and Disposal Facilities
  10. Proximity to National Priorities List Sites
  11. Proximity to Major Direct Water Dischargers

Caution: Technical Details: Census tracts are ranked for each environmental indicator, a resulting percentile score is found for each tract, and the percentile scores are then averaged. This results in the EnvironmentalIndicator score for each tract. If we then rank and derive the percentile scores of the Environmental Indicator, we get the EnvironmentalIndicatorPct.

Demographic Indicator Map

A higher score means a more vulnerable population.

The demographic indicators are:

  1. Percent low-income
  2. Percent minority
  3. Less than high school education
  4. Linguistic isolation
  5. Individuals under age 5
  6. Individuals over age 64

Again…

Caution: Technical Details: Census tracts are ranked for each demographic indicator, a resulting percentile score is found for each tract, and the percentile scores are then averaged. This results in the DemogrpahicIndicator score for each tract. If we then rank and derive the percentile scores of the Demographic Indicator, we get the DemographicIndicatorPct.

The EnviroScore Map

A higher score means a more vulnerable population in a more polluted neighborhood.

Again…

Caution: Technical Details: Census tract DemographicIndicators are multiplied by the EnvironmentalIndicators. If we then rank and derive the percentile scores of the EnviroScore, we get the EnviroScorePct.

The code that generates the maps and this page are available here. It is based on my previous volunteer work for the IL EPA, the Illinois Power Agency, and the Future Jobs Energy Act.